Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1863

Chase v. Cabot & West Springfield Bridge Co.

Chase v. Cabot & West Springfield Bridge Co.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · Decided September 15, 1863 · Metcalf
88 Mass. 512

Chase v. Cabot & West Springfield Bridge Co.

Opinion of the Court

Metcalf, J.

The judge gave correct instructions to the jury, and rightly declined to give those for which the plaintiff’s counsel asked. The defendants were bound by law to keep their bridge safe and convenient for travellers, but were not bound to cover the whole or any part of it with snow. They might lawfully cover a part of it only, without making it unsafe or inconvenient, if such partial covering was not injurious.” So the jury were instructed; and they must have found, under this and the remaining part of the instruction, that such partial covering was not injurious to travellers; and they could not legally have found, from the mere fact that it was only partially covered, that it was out of repair, unsafe or inconvenient.

Exceptions overruled.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.